Recipe courtesy of Terry Kurlan
Pork Tenderloin with Polenta Cakes
- Total: 3 hr 10 min
- Prep: 10 min
- Cook: 3 hr
Ingredients
Mushrooms:
2 pounds button mushrooms
6 cups beef broth (not bouillon) You may use canned consomme or beef broth
2 cups French onion soup (may use canned French Onion or homemade)
1 stick unsalted butter
2 cups red wine
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (optional)
Pork Tenderloin:
1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin
Flour
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon oil or butter
2 to 3 tablespoons red wine
Pat butter
Fresh Rosemary sprigs (one per guest)
Polenta Cakes:
1 package polenta
1 egg beaten
1/2 cup flour
1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil
Directions
- Mushrooms: Pick mushrooms that are small and the gills on the underneath side are closed. Gently wash mushrooms and drain. Put all the mushrooms in large Dutch oven and begin cooking on medium heat. Water will be rendered from the mushrooms. If no liquid is rendered from the mushrooms, add 1 cup of broth to begin cooking. When the mushrooms have shriveled, add the broth and the onion soup. Cook slowly for about 2 hours until the mushrooms are darker in color and tender. If more liquid is needed, add water. After 2 hours add the wine and cook 1 hour more. The liquid should be reduced by 2/3 by now. Add the rosemary and butter and keep warm.
- Pork Tenderloin: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Flour the tenderloin and shake off excess. Add salt and pepper. In a skillet over medium high heat, heat about 1 tablespoon of oil or a mixture of oil and butter. Saute the tenderloin until seared on all sides. Put in oven in skillet and roast for about 8 to 12 minutes until internal temperature is 170. Remove loin and keep warm. Deglaze the pan with wine, reduce by half and add a pat of butter. Add tenderloin back to pan and keep warm.
- Polenta Cakes: Wrap polenta in cling wrap and refrigerate until firm. Cut polenta into rounds and dip in egg that has been beaten and dredge in flour mixed with Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Fry in oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Make 2 per person.
- To serve: Place 2 polenta cakes on the plate 1 slightly overlapping the other. Slice tenderloin and allow 5 to 6 slices per person. Add drippings from pork loin to mushrooms. Spoon mushrooms with gravy over meat and polenta. Stand a spring of rosemary in center spearing the meat. If you want a fragrant presentation, you can light the rosemary after if has been slightly dried in the microwave.
- Green Bean Bundles: Fresh long green beans about a dozen per person 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips same shape as green beans Strips bacon flattened and cut in half
- Make bundle with green beans and bell pepper and wrap with bacon. You can either tie bacon or use a toothpick. Place bundles in glass pie plate with another pie plate on top and microwave on high until beans are crisp tender and bacon done. Remove toothpicks and serve.